The Bible

 

Postanak 29

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1 Tada se podiže Jakov i otide u zemlju istočnu.

2 I obzirući se ugleda studenac u polju; i gle, tri stada ovaca ležahu kod njega, jer se na onom studencu pojahu stada, a veliki kamen beše studencu na vratima.

3 Onde se skupljahu sva stada, te pastiri odvaljivahu kamen s vrata studencu i pojahu stada, i posle opet privaljivahu kamen na vrata studencu na njegovo mesto.

4 I Jakov im reče: Braćo, odakle ste? Rekoše: Iz Harana smo.

5 A on im reče: Poznajete li Lavana sina Nahorovog? Oni rekoše: Poznajemo.

6 On im reče: Je li zdrav? Rekoše: Jeste, i evo Rahilje kćeri njegove, gde ide sa stadom.

7 I on reče: Eto još je rano, niti je vreme vraćati stoku; napojte stoku pa idite i pasite je.

8 A oni rekoše: Ne možemo, dokle se ne skupe sva stada, da odvalimo kamen s vrata studencu, onda ćemo napojiti stoku.

9 Dok on još govoraše s njima, dođe Rahilja sa stadom oca svog, jer ona pasaše ovce.

10 A kad Jakov vide Rahilju kćer Lavana ujaka svog, i stado Lavana ujaka svog, pristupi Jakov i odvali kamen studencu s vrata, i napoji stado Lavana ujaka svog.

11 I poljubi Jakov Rahilju, i povikavši zaplaka se.

12 I kaza se Jakov Rahilji da je rod ocu njenom i da je sin Revečin; a ona otrča te javi ocu svom.

13 A kad Lavan ču za Jakova sina sestre svoje, istrča mu na susret, i zagrli ga i poljubi, i uvede u svoju kuću. I on pripovedi Lavanu sve ovo.

14 A Lavan mu reče: Ta ti si kost moja i telo moje. I osta kod njega ceo mesec dana.

15 Tada reče Lavan Jakovu: Zar badava da mi služiš, što si mi rod? Kaži mi šta će ti biti plata?

16 A Lavan imaše dve kćeri: starijoj beše ime Lija, a mlađoj Rahilja.

17 I u Lije behu kvarne oči, a Rahilja beše lepog stasa i lepog lica.

18 I Jakovu omile Rahilja, te reče: Služiću ti sedam godina za Rahilju, mlađu kćer tvoju.

19 A Lavan mu reče: Bolje tebi da je dam nego drugom; ostani kod mene.

20 I odsluži Jakov za Rahilju sedam godina, i učiniše mu se kao nekoliko dana, jer je ljubljaše.

21 I reče Jakov Lavanu: Daj mi ženu, jer mi se navrši vreme, da legnem s njom.

22 I sazva Lavan sve ljude iz onog mesta i učini gozbu.

23 A uveče uze Liju kćer svoju i uvede je k Jakovu, i on leže s njom.

24 I Lavan dade Zelfu robinju svoju Liji kćeri svojoj da joj bude robinja.

25 A kad bi ujutru, gle, ono beše Lija; te reče Jakov Lavanu: Šta si mi to učinio? Ne služim li za Rahilju kod tebe? Zašto si me prevario?

26 A Lavan mu reče: Ne biva u našem mestu da se uda mlađa pre starije.

27 Navrši nedelju dana s tom, pa ćemo ti dati i drugu za službu što ćeš služiti kod mene još sedam godina drugih.

28 Jakov učini tako, i navrši s njom nedelju dana, pa mu dade Lavan Rahilju kćer svoju za ženu.

29 I dade Lavan Rahilji kćeri svojoj robinju svoju Valu da joj bude robinja.

30 I tako leže Jakov s Rahiljom; i voljaše Rahilju nego Liju, i stade služiti kod Lavana još sedam drugih godina.

31 A Gospod videći da Jakov ne mari za Liju, otvori njoj matericu, a Rahilja osta nerotkinja.

32 I Lija zatrudne, i rodi sina, i nadede mu ime Ruvim, govoreći: Gospod pogleda na jade moje, sada će me ljubiti muž moj.

33 I opet zatrudne, i rodi sina i reče: Gospod ču da sam prezrena, pa mi dade i ovog. I nadede mu ime Simeun.

34 I opet zatrudne, i rodi sina, i reče: Da ako se sada većpriljubi k meni muž moj, kad mu rodih tri sina. Zato mu nadeše ime Levije.

35 I zatrudne opet, i rodi sina, i reče: Sada ću hvaliti Gospoda. Zato mu nadede ime Juda; i presta rađati.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #8987

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8987. I will not go out free. That this signifies the delight of obedience, is evident from the signification of “going out free,” as being the state after combat, which is merely a state of confirmed and implanted truth (of which above, n. 8976, 8980, 8984); for the service, which was of six years, and is called “a week” in Genesis 29:27-28, signifies labor or some combat, such as those have who are in truths and not in the corresponding good, and who in the spiritual sense are meant by the “Hebrew menservants.” These are of such a nature that they cannot be regenerated, but only reformed. For to be regenerated is said of those who suffer themselves to be brought by the Lord, by means of the truths called the truths of faith, to the good of spiritual life; but to be reformed is said of those who cannot be brought to the good of spiritual life by means of the truths which are of faith; but only to the delight of natural life.

[2] They who suffer themselves to be regenerated, act from affection according to the precepts of faith; but they who do not suffer themselves to be regenerated, but only to be reformed, do not act from affection, but from obedience. The difference is this. They who act from affection, act from the heart, and thus from freedom, and they also do truth for the sake of truth, and good for the sake of good, and thus they exercise charity for the sake of the neighbor; but they who act from obedience do not thus act from the heart, consequently not from freedom. If they seem to themselves to act from the heart and from freedom, it is for the sake of something of self-glory which causes it to be so perceived; and they do not do truth for the sake of truth, nor good for the sake of good, but for the sake of the delight arising from this glory. Thus they do not practice charity toward the neighbor for the sake of the neighbor, but in order to be seen, and in order to be recompensed. From this it is evident who and of what quality are they who are represented by the sons of Israel, and who and of what quality are they who are represented by the Hebrew menservants.

[3] But within the church at this day the knowledge of this distinction has been lost. The reason is that the church at this day is proclaimed and said to be from faith and not from charity; and few know what faith is; most persons believing that faith consists in knowing those things which the doctrine of the church teaches, and in being persuaded that they are true; but not that it consists in living according to them. Life according to them they call “moral life,” which they separate from the doctrine of the church, and entitle it Moral Theology. But the learned believe that faith is confidence or trust that they are saved by the Lord’s having suffered for them, and redeemed them from hell; and they say that those are saved who have this confidence; thus by faith alone. But such persons do not consider that there cannot be the confidence of faith, except with those who live a life of charity.

[4] These are the reasons why knowledge has been lost concerning the difference between those who are in truths of faith and not in the corresponding good of life, and those who are in good of life corresponding with the truths of faith; and because this knowledge has been lost, what has now been said about those who are in truths and not in good, who are signified by “the Hebrew menservants,” cannot but appear strange.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.